Good grief. I am so embarrassed, but I guess it happens to the best of us at some point.....I have been reading North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell since last April (I think that's when I started it). It's not that the book isn't good; it is...very good. It is very political, though, and I really can't stand politics. It is a romance even more than political, but I still found it very challenging to get through. I don't know why I had such a hard time with this book. It's a British story set during the turn the 19th century--a country and time period I LOVE studying!
A friend loaned the book (and movie) to me. Someone I trust to share a good read, so I was certainly looking forward to reading something chosen by her. Honestly, I think I was more intimidated by the Lord of the Rings than I'm willing to admit. Ever since I finished reading the last book in that series, I have had a hard time reading anything at all. In fact, I don't think I've finished a single novel, really, since then. Every book I've picked up since finishing the last book of the series, I've read only bits and pieces of....except for Breaking Dawn. For some reason or other, I had a wonderful time re-reading that one! Probably because the first movie was out in November and I was looking forward to seeing it after reading the book--again.
But, now I've finally finished North and South and I can honestly say that not only did I actually enjoy reading it, but that I'll more than likely read the book again at some point. I hope the next time I read it, I can read it much more quickly! I'll watch the movie this weekend and let Amanda know I'm done so we can meet for lunch one day and talk about it.....my favorite part about reading any book!!!!
The book itself is pretty predictable, yet still enjoyable. It's no real secret that a large number of the major characters in the story die and the ones who don't die are the most boring characters who we wish would have been the ones to die. That's a terrible thing to say, I know, but if you'd read the book, you'd understand exactly what I mean!
One thing that the book brings up that almost falls by the wayside of the political aspect that arises is the importance of religion (faith in God) in a person's life. The father, Mr. Hale is really all we ever get, of Margaret (the main character) gives up his position as pastor (at the very beginning of the story) and renounces his faith completely and thoroughly. His family tries to be supportive, but it obviously affects everyone severely. Throughout the book, faith in God is brought up in various ways, but always in a way that makes it more a taboo subject than something of importance. What I mean is that, while faith in God seems to be an important issue throughout the story, it's often swept under the carpet and made light of. Even Margaret attempts at times to reassure those around her who are dying that they need to keep their faith in God and not lose hope, but she's afraid to bring it up when she does, so she starts to say something about the importance of faith, but she always stops herself. Oddly enough, though, it's very effective in that most of the people around her love her for trying and are reassured in spite of her hesitation and lack of knowledge in how to provide comfort through God in their times of need.
To make things even more odd, Margaret does NOT rely on or turn to God in her own time of need. And even though she suffers severely after telling a lie, it's not really because of her fear of having sinned (even though that DOES upset her), she is even more upset about the fact that her lie made her look bad in the eyes of the man she soon learns she loves (even though she thinks she dislikes Mr. Thornton, it's through her lie that she realizes she cares more for him and his opinion of her than she thought). As a result, she is tortured by the lie she's told and suffers severely as a result. It is not until she realizes that Mr. Thornton doesn't care so much (or he learns the truth) that the resolution comes about. The resolution does not come because Margaret repents and receives forgiveness from God for her sin of lying--even though she does attempt to repent of her sin.
So, is the book saying that, as far as religion (or faith) is concerned, we are not really and truly absolved of our sin by God but by the people around us when they forgive us our sin---rather than absolution/forgiveness through Jesus Christ, as the Bible tells me forgiveness comes?
It's an interesting question. One I'm not sure Gaskell really meant to bring up through her story, but one that comes up for me. I guess I'm supposed to walk away from her story having paid more attention to the politics of the story (the relationship between the common, working man and the factory owner) rather than the religious aspect of the story, but since I find politics boring and completely uninteresting and anything related to religion absolutely fascinating, it makes sense which part of the book/story stands out more for me than it might for other readers of this story.
Other than politics, the other thing that bothered me about this book is the fact that it is very predictable....and that every time we turn around, someone else dies--yet I don't often have the time to care about the death of so-and-so because said person comes into the story just a few pages before his/her death. Even one of the most horrific deaths in the book, a suicide, isn't all that interesting for me to read since I don't know that character too well. I should have been more horrified about his death, mostly because it IS a terrible suicide, than I was. I just wanted the story to get back to Margaret and her relationship with Mr. Thornton.
I guess, then, a final comment is that the book could have been half the length it was if it didn't have as many pointless, needless characters--not only the ones who die, but also the ones who don't, who I actually wish would have died because they're either so boring or narcissistic (which I guess is one of the points of the story). It does seem that Gaskell is trying to show how each individual is so wrapped up in his/her own life (cares, worries, joys, sins, etc.) that we don't know or care so much about others and what's going on their lives---at least, not until their lives interfere with our own and make our own lives uncomfortable until/unless we do something about (to help) the others around us.
And then we can feel a little self-righteous, knowing that we've done our good deed for the day/week/month/year. We're more noble or maybe, as in Margaret's role, a little bit self-sacrificing--a martyr, even, because we put the needs/wants/desires of others before our own---even if it is out of sense of moral obligation and/or because if we don't, our own lives will be that much more miserable.
I realize a lot of what I'm saying won't make any sense unless you read the book, but think about it. How many times have we done something for someone else because it actually makes our lives easier rather than because of the joy it will bring him/her? For example, right now in my own home, my husband has decided to move things around and make what was originally going to be my office our bedroom and our bedroom now my office. Because he'd painted the smaller room a beautiful purple, I am disappointed to lose that room as my office. But, in reality, having the larger room as my office is better for me than having the smaller room since I have so many books and "stuff!" So, if he'll paint the bigger bedroom, now my office, purple, it's actually the perfect solution to a problem I didn't even realize existed!!!!! Bottom line, the move is actually better for me than anyone else....
(Not the greatest example, but it's fresh on my mind!)
Anyway, North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell is a very good read, in spite of the fact that it took me more than 7 months to read it! I am really looking forward to seeing the movie later this weekend! I probably ought to wait a few days to see the movie so I can enjoy it more. Usually, if I see a movie too soon after reading a book, I don't enjoy the movie very much because I'm comparing it so much to the book.....
One final comment....yes, when I first heard the title, I thought of the American story North and South that was made into a mini-series back in the '80s starring Patrick Swayze as Orrie Maine. Yes, I read that whole series of books and loved them, so I thought that was this book when Amanda first mentioned it to me. She quickly assured me that it's not the same thing, so I did not go into the reading of it with a false expectation. Maybe that's why I had so much trouble reading it.....I was hoping for the other book......(Sad.)
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